ABSTRACT
Several thermal power projects and open-cast coal mines have ensued in northern India’s Singrauli belt, which has massive coal reserves. Thermal power plant (TPP) emissions have remarkably affected the air quality and vegetation, particularly in the vicinity of emission sources and at sites affected by emissions from both power plants and adjacent coal mines. Vegetation at sites receiving higher pollution loads have reduced total chlorophyll content, leaf area, and specific leaf area as well as increased contents of sulfate-S and trace elements. Coal mine spoils exhibited changes with time in physiochemical and biological properties, species composition, and biomass levels. Total soil N, mineral N, NaHCO3-extractable P, and exchangeable K increased with age of mine spoils, these parameters were lower than native forest soil even after 20 years of succession. Only a few species dominated in the vegetation succession. Impact of microsites, even after 20 years of soil and vegetation development, remained important. Undulating surface and flat surface microsites were better habitats than slope and coalpatch margin microsites for plant growth. On the 12-year-old flat surface microsites, 24 out of 30 plant species seeded showed satisfactory growth performance.
